Psalms 55
1 `In Ebreu thus, To victorie in orguns, the lernyng of Dauid. `In Jeroms translacioun thus, To the ouercomer in salmes of Dauid lernid. God, here thou my preier, and dispise thou not my biseching;
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.
2 yyue thou tent to me, and here thou me. I am sorewful in myn exercising; and Y am disturblid of the face of the enemye,
Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
3 and of the tribulacioun of the synner. For thei bowiden wickidnessis in to me; and in ire thei weren diseseful to me.
at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.
4 Myn herte was disturblid in me; and the drede of deth felde on me.
My heart murmurs within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
5 Drede and trembling camen on me; and derknessis hiliden me.
Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And Y seide, Who schal yyue to me fetheris, as of a culuer; and Y schal fle, and schal take rest?
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7 Lo! Y yede fer awei, and fledde; and Y dwellide in wildirnesse.
How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.
8 I abood hym, that made me saaf fro the litilnesse, `ether drede, of spirit; and fro tempest.
I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
9 Lord, caste thou doun, departe thou the tungis of hem; for Y siy wickidnesse and ayenseiyng in the citee.
O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Bi dai and nyyt wickidnesse schal cumpasse it on the wallis therof;
Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11 and trauel and vnriytfulnesse ben in the myddis therof. And vsure and gile failide not; fro the stretis therof.
Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
12 For if myn enemye hadde cursid me; sotheli Y hadde suffride. And if he, that hatide me, hadde spoke greet thingis on me; in hap Y hadde hid me fro hym.
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
13 But thou art a man of o wille; my leeder, and my knowun.
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
14 Which tokist togidere swete meetis with me; we yeden with consent in the hous of God.
We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
15 Deth come on hem; and go thei doun quyk in to helle. For weiwardnessis ben in the dwelling places of hem; in the myddis of hem. (Sheol h7585)
Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. (Sheol h7585)
16 But Y criede to thee, Lord; and the Lord sauede me.
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 In the euentid and morewtid and in myddai Y schal telle, and schewe; and he schal here my vois.
Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.
18 He schal ayenbie my soule in pees fro hem, that neiyen to me; for among manye thei weren with me.
He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
19 God schal here; and he that is bifore the worldis schal make hem low. For chaungyng is not to hem, and thei dredden not God;
God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— (Selah) because they do not change and they have no fear of God.
20 he holdith forth his hoond in yelding. Thei defouliden his testament,
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21 the cheris therof weren departid fro ire; and his herte neiyede. The wordis therof weren softer than oyle; and tho ben dartis.
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
22 Caste thi cure on the Lord, and he schal fulli nurische thee; and he schal not yyue with outen ende flotering to a iust man.
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 But thou, God, schalt lede hem forth; in to the pit of deth. Menquelleris and gilours schulen not haue half her daies; but, Lord, Y schal hope in thee.
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
